Pirate Cycling League Celebrates 15 Years of Two-Wheeled Adventures
Lincoln, Neb. (February 23, 2023) – The Pirate Cycling League (PCL), host of Garmin Gravel Worlds and other gravel cycling events, is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. Founded by Lincoln, Neb. cyclist Craig Schmidt in 2008, the Pirate Cycling League is both a cycling club and event promoter.
According to Garmin Gravel Worlds Executive Director and event founder, Corey Godfrey, the PCL has been focused on community since day one.
“The Pirate Cycling League started as a small club in Lincoln, and has grown in size and impact over the past 15 years,” Godfrey said. “The PCL now has members all across the globe who share their love for community and bikes.
“The PCL was and continues to be the club for those without a club, and lives by just one rule, “Be cool",".
The Pirate Cycling League has never required team fees or event commitments of its members. In fact, early PCL events were completely free until 2015, when the event sizes became too large to continue hosting for free. And while some PCL events now have entry fees, the group has led with a philanthropic spirit. The result is more than $100,000 raised through Gravel Worlds and other PCL events. One such event is the 100% fundraising event, “Randy’s Ride” which celebrates the life and legacy of Randy Gibson, a Gravel Worlds promoter and cyclist who was killed by a drunk driver in 2017.
According to Pirate Cycling League Founder, Craig Schmidt, the Pirate Cycling League was created to be a club for everyone.
“Pirate Cycling League was created from the desire to create community, ride bikes, have less rules and be more inclusive. It may sound simple now, but 15 years ago this was the opposite of most clubs out there. We wanted to create fun, affordable events with minimal rules. That was the initial reason it was started, and we continue to try to be a leader in cycling with the same mentality.”
According to Garmin Gravel Worlds Director of Operations and Marketing, Jason Strohbehn, the Pirate Cycling League has been life changing.
“I’m an example of the byproduct of this incredible club,” Strohbehn said. “The first time I found community and ultimately fell in love with cycling was because of the Pirate Cycling League. I’m just one of hundreds around the world whose lives have been changed because they have found joy and community through the PCL.”
The Pirate Cycling League has launched its 2023 Spring cycling and running kits. The design pays tribute to the first army green PCL kit from 15 years ago, updated with a modern flair. The kit is available to anyone. To purchase a kit, learn more about the PCL or register for Gravel Worlds 2023, visit www.piratecyclingleague.com. The 2023 PCL Kit order is open until March 13, 2023.
Garmin Gravel Worlds 2023 will be held August 25-26, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb.